Tave adolphe canet



L? (No Model.) 5 Shegts-Sheef 1.

` v J. B. G. CANET.

ARMORBD TURRET.

No. 453,545. Patented June 2,1891.

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39. ORDNANUn,

Mounts, I Disappearing Gun,

5 Sheets- Sheet 2.

(No Model.)`

J. B. G. A. CANET.y

ARMORED TURRBT.

Patented June. 2, 1891.-

Maun's,

Dappvearng Gun.

(No Model.)

@j l #www 5 Sheets-Sheet 3;

J. B. G. A. CANET.

ARMORBD TURRET.

Patented Jung 2.1891.

y (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

l J. B. G. A. CANET.

ARMRED TURRET.

No. 453,545. Patented June 2, 1891.

5 sneetssheeu 5 j (No Model.)

J. B. G. A. CANET.

ARMORED TURRET. f, No. 453,545.` lfatented June 2,1891.

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.4/ f1 I gf y ff f f 7b UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

OF ONE-HALF TO SIR JOSEPH IVHITIVORTII & COMPANY,

OPENSIIAIV, EYGLAND.

LIMITED, OF

ARMORED TURRET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 453,545, dated .Tune 2, 1891. Application filed .Tune 1l, 1889. Serial No. 313.876. (No model.) Patented in France February 25,1888, No. 138,964.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JEAN BAPTISTE GUs- 'rAvE ADOLPHE CANET, civil engineer, a citizen of the Republic of France, and a resident of Paris, France, have invented new and useful Improvements in Disappearing Armored Turrets, (for which I have obtained Letters Patent in France, No. 188,964C, dated February 25, 1888,) of which the following is a specifixo cation, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My inventionY relates to disappearing armored turrets. I

My said invention comprises the combination of two hydraulic cylinders which maybe placed in communication with each other, the ram or plunger of one of the said cylinders supporting the weight of the turret, and the ram or plunger of the other cylinder bezo ing loaded by springs provided with means for adjusting the same to regulate their initial compression. By this arrangement the turret may, after the firing of the gun mounted therein, be allowed to disappear slowly or 2 5 quickly, as desired.

My said invention also comprises means for raising the turret after its disappearance to permit the firing of the gun over the wall or parapet, and my said invention comprises 3o further improvements hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown how my said invention -may be conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.

Figure l is a vertical central section of one form of my improved disappearing turret, the gun and other parts being shown in sideA elevation. Fig. 2 is avertical central section on the line a; Fig. 1, some of the parts being 4o shown in rear elevation. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation,partlyi11 vertical centralsectiomdrawn to an enlarged scale, showing details of construction. Fig. 4 is a vertical central section of another form ormodification of my improved turret, the gun and other parts being shown in side elevation. Fig. 5 is a section on the line w Fig. 4, some of the parts being shown in rear elevation. Fig. 6 is a vertical central section, drawn to an enlarged scale, showing a further slight modification 5o of my invention.

Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.

A is the turret, which is sunk in a pit, and is protected by an armored shield B, surrounded by a thick cou rsc B of stonework or concrete.

C is the gun.

The turret comprises a vertically-movable and rotating portion and another portion 6o' which, though it rotates therewith, does not participate in the up-and-down movement thereof. The said vertically-movable portion comprises a platform a, upon which is mounted the cylindrical casing or wall b. This casing` or wall supports au armored spherical roof or cupola c, having a cylindrical portion c'. In this cylindrical portion is formed the port-hole or embrasure (l, through which the gun is fired.

The gun is mounted in a cradle or top car- 7o riage e, arranged to recoil upon a chassis, slide, or beam f, pivoted at f to a bracket g, secured to the wall b of the turret. The said chassis, slide, or beam is supported at its rear end by a forked rod h, formed in three parts or pieces, the central portion h having right and left hand screw-threads, which fit into correspondingly-sereW-threaded holes in the upper and lower parts of the said rod 7L. The part h is, moreover, provided with a hand- 8o wheel h2 for rotating or adjusting the same to elevate or depress the gun by turning the chassis, slide, or beamabout its pivot f The gun may, however, be mounted in any other suitable form of carriage that will permit of its withdrawal into the turret.

The vertically-movable portion of the turret, comprising the platform a, casing b, and cupola c, can be lowered until the said cupola rests upon the shield B. The lowering or dis- 9( appearing of the turret is controlled by means of a special arrangement of hydraulic cylinders and springs hereinafter described.

The vertically-movable part of the turret is surrounded by a casing z', of sheet metal, 95 which is carried by a ring or annular piece j and forms therewith the other portion of the turret, which is capable of rotation, but has no vertical movement. The ringy is formed with an annular groove or channel j', and is supported through the medium of spherical rollers or balls upon a racer or roller path l, attached to the masonry or wall of the pit.. The racer Z is provided with an internallytoothed ringl', with which is geared a toothed :wheel m, mounted on a vertical spindle m', carried in suitable bearings m2. The shaft m' has fixed thereon a miter-wheel m3, which is geared with another miter-wheel mi, fixed upon a horizontal spindle m5, carried in suitable bearings and provided with a hand-wheel mi. By rotatingr the said hand-wheel the turret may be turned about its axis to train the gun'. To insure the turning of the wheel m with its shaft, notwithstanding the vertical movement of the parts a b c of the turret, the said shaft m is so arranged that it can move up and down in the boss of the toothed wheel m, and is provided with a long groove or keyway m7, in which lits a corresponding key or feather in the said boss, so that the said shaft, while free to slide in the said toothed wheel, is rotatively connected therewith; or the spindle m may be provided with a long key or feather itting into a corresponding keyway in the boss of the toothed wheel m.

The vertically-movable portion of the turret is guided within the casing t' by means of rollers n, and is -suppprted by the ram o of a hydraulic cylinder p. This cylinder is carried by two girders q, forming part of or tirmly attached to the ring or annular piece 7, and the said cylinder communicates with a second cylinder r, of larger diameter, in which works a ram s. The communication between the cylinders p o' is regulated or controlled by means of a valve p', which is operated by means of a rod or stem p2, carried by a bracket or standard p3 and provided with a handwheel p4. The ram s is firmly connected with a cross-piece t, which is suspended by side rods t from other cross-pieces t2, resting upon springs u, mounted on rods fu. The said ram acts through the said cross-pieces ft2 and rods t upon the said springs u. The cross-piecet is guided by sleeves t3, passing freely over the springs u.

The rods c are provided at their upperextremities with screw threaded portions which extend through correspondingly-screwthreaded holes in toothed or worm wheels iv.

These toothed or worm wheels are supported by a cross-piece w', formed on the cylinder p or lirmly attached to the girders q.

The toothed or worm wheels w are operated by means of a horizontal shaft y, having fixed thereon toothed or worm wheels y', geared with the wheels fw. The shaft y is driven by a vertical shaft z, carried in suitable bearings and connected by bevel-pinions with the said shaft y and with a hand-wheel 5,situated within reach of the gunner. Any other suitable means may, however, be employed for increasing or diminishing the compression of the springs n. P

The rod or stem p2 for operating the communication-valve p is formed in two parts, one of which is provided with a socket p5, in which slides the other part p6, so that the two parts will be connected notwithstanding the up-and-down movement of the vertically-movable portion of the turret. To insure the turning of the-two parts of the said rod together, the lower part p6 is provided with a suitable key or feather adapted to tit in a corresponding groove or keyway in the said socket p5, or the said lower part p6 is made square or of other suitable form in transverse section and arranged to slide in a correspondingly-shaped socket on the upper part.

'arm or projection f2 on t e orward end of the top carriage e. This arm bears against a lever fi, pivoted at f* to lugs f5, attached to the wall of the turret. Against the lever f 3 bears a spring f6, and the said lever is connected by means of a rod or link f7 to a lever f8, pivoted at f9 to lugs p7 upon the bracket or standard p3. The upper extremity of the lever f S serves as a stop-pawl and is adapted to engage withv therteeth of .a Yratchet-wheel 198, fixed upon the rod or stem p2, (whereby the valve p is opened or closed,) and thus prevent the operation of the said rod. Vhen the gun, after tiring, is withdrawn into the turret by the recoil or otherwise, the arm or loo projection f2 being moved away from the le- Ver f3 allows the spring f6 to move the said lever, the connecting-rod f7, and the lever f8, so as to disengage the pawl from the ratchetwheel p8, andthus permit the opening of the` xo valve p by means of the hand-wheel p4. i The operation of the apparatus above de\ scribed is as follows-that is, to say: When the gun is fired it recoils with the top-carriage e along the beam f until the whole of the gun is within -the turret. Communication may then be established between the cylinders 1J and r by opening vthe valve p. When the said cylinders are thus put in communication f with each other, the weight of the verticallyx15 movable portion of the turret causes the same to descend, the ram o forcing theliquidfrom the cylinder p into the cylinder fr.' The ram s and cross-piece t are thus forced downward and through the medium' of the rods t and 12o cross-pieces t2 compress the springs u. When it is desired yto raise the turret, the toothed wheels w are rotated by means of the handgear above described in the proper direction to raise the rods or stems v, and thus cause 12 5 the same to act through the medium of the springs u, the cross-pieces t t2, and the rods t upon the ram s. This ram rising in the cylinder r forces the liquid back into the cylinderp, and thus raises the turret. The valve r 3o p is then closed, and the springs u are slackcned or their initial compression diminished by rotating the wheels win the reverse direction, so as to permit the disappearance or descent of the turret when the said valve is again opened. lf the springs 'a arc slackened previous to the opening of the valve p for communication between the cylinders p and r, but slight resistance will be offered to the descent of the turret, which will consequently disappear suddenly. If, on the contrary, the said springs have more or less initial cornpression the turret will meet with increased resistance, and will descend or disappear more slowly, according to the degree of such initial compression. The turret can, moreover, be caused to rise or appear slowly or suddenly, as may be desired, the speed of rotation of the hand-wheel 5 being varied as may be required for this purpose.

Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate a modification of my invention, wherein the casing-1', of plate or sheet metal, which surrounds the verticallymovable part of the turret, is secured to the pit-wall. Between the casing 'i and the part b are placed spherical rollers orballs n. The turret is su pported upon a ram formed in two parts o o2. The part o2 rotates with the turret; but the part o does not rotate. The cylinder p is supported by beams or girders q, which are in this case iixed in the pit-wallinstead of being attached to the revolvingportion of the turret, as in the arrangement here-Y inbefore described. From the vsaid cylinder p extends a pipe p, which is provided with a valve p arid which affords communication between the said cylinder and the cylinder 1', the said cylinder r being in this case formed on or attached to abracket 1", fixed in a basement-chamber or lateral gallery D of the pit. As in the arrangement hereinbcfore described, the liquid forced out of the cylinder p by the ram o enters the cylinder fr and forces out the rarn s and acts through the said ram s upon a cross-piece t, thus compressthe springs u.. By means of a hand-wheel z and a screw-threaded extension s of the ram s, Working in a nut z2, which forms part of the said hand-wheel and is fitted to rotate in the cross-piece t, the ram 8 can be forced inward and the turret returned to its fighting position. This arrangement also admits of the turret being lowered or disappearing suddenly or gradually by adjusting the initial compression of the springs in the manner liereinbefore described. The rods 'n are in this case connected directly to the cross-piece t. The valve p for controlling the communication between the cylinders p and r is worked by means of a stein or rod p2, passing through the center of the ram o o2 and arranged to be operated from the platform a by means of the hand-wheel p4.

` I sometimes provide for operating the valve p from below by means of a hand-wheel p4, as shown in Fig. G. A safety device similar to that hereinbefore described or of other suitable construction is, moreover, provided for preventing the lowering of the vertically` movable portion of the turret before the gun lis drawn into the same. rlhe vertically-movmoving the top carriage e on the slide f by hand, so that the gun may, if desired, be drawn into the turret without tiring it.

lVhat I claim isl. rlhe combination, with a disappearingr turret, of turret-elevating mechanism acting to raise the said turret from the loading to the firing position, a turret-upholding device acting to retain the said turret in the tiring position when thus raised, an adjustable spring for supporting the turret, located between the said mechanism and Lthe turret, whereby the descent of the said turretis regulated, and connecting devices between the said spring and the turret-elevating mechanism, whereby the said mechanism when operated in one direction will, through the medium of the said spring, raise the turret, and when operated in the reverse direction while the turret is upheld will diminish the compression of the said spring, so as to permit the more or less rapid descent of the turretwhen released, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a disappearing turret, of a turret-su pporting sp ring, whereby the descentof the said turret is regulated, turret-elevating mechanism comprising a screw and nut, one of which is capable of and the other of which is restrained from endwise or longitudinal movement, connecting devices between the longitudinallymovable part of the said mechanism and the said turret-supporting spring, whereby when the said mechanism is operated in one direction it will, through the medium of the said spring, raise the turret, and a turret-upholding device whereby the turret when raised is held up to permit the operation of the said mechanism in the reverse direction to adjust the said spring and thus regulate the descent of the turret, for the purpose above specified.

3. Thecombination, with a disappearing turret, of elevating mechanism therefor, comprising a spring for regulating the descent of the turret, hydraulic cylinders which are in communication with each other through a pipe or passage and the ram of one of which supports the turret, the rain of the other being connected with the said spring, and a valve or its equivalent whereby lthe said pipe or passage may be closed for the purpose of holding up the turret while the elevating mechanism is operated to permit the reaction of the said spring to a greater or less extent, for the purposes above specified.

4.-. The combination, with a disappearing turret, of a hydraulic cylinder the ram of which supports the said turret, another hydraulic cylinder communicating with the first by means of a pipe or passage, a valve for controlling the tlow of liquid through the said pipe or passage, screw-gearing for elevating 1o ret, a spring whereby the ram of the other of the said spring, substantially as and for zo brasure, a slide carried by the turret and upon 2 5 when run out,.forthe purpose above specified.

3o the gun is run in andout, elevating-gear conis prevented by the gun when run out, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5 for the purposes set forth.

. beam or slide which is pivoted to the turret 4o beneaththe said embrasure and upon which the said turret by the movement of the ram of the second hydraulic cylinder, and an elastic or spring connection between the said ram and the screw-gearing, substantially as and 5. The combination, with a disappearing turret, of two hydraulic cylinders in communication with each other, the ram of one 0f the said cylinders supporting the said turcylinder is loaded, a valve for controlling the flowof liquid from one to the other of the said cylinders, and means, substantially such vas above described, for varying the compression the purposes set forth.

6. The combination, with a disappearing turret having a port-hole or embrasure, of a gun adapted to protrude through the said emwhich the gun is run in and out, and a retaining device which holds up the turret when elevated and the operation of which to release the turret is prevented by the gun 7. The combination, with a disappearing beneath the said embrasure and upon which nected with thel said slide for turning ,the same about its pivot, and a retaining device which holds up the turret when elevated and` the operation of which to release the turret S. The combination, with a disappearing turret. having a port-hole or embrasure, ofa

the gunis ruuai-n and out, elevating-gear con-1 nected with the said slide for turning the same about its pivot, and elevating mechanism for raising and lowering the turret and compris- .ing hydraulic cylinders communicating with each other and a valve which controls such communication and which is kept closed by the gun when run out, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

9. The combination, with the verticallymovable portion of the turret and the elevating mechanism therefor, of a metal casing surrounding the same, a fixed roller-path on which the said casing is supported through the medium of rollers, anti-friction rollers situated between the'said casing and the periphery of the said vertically-movable portion, a circular rack formed or fixed on the said roller-path, a pinion geared with the said rack, turning mechanism carried by the said vertically-movable portion, and adevice which rotatively connects the said mechanism with the pinion while permitting it to move up and down relatively thereto, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

l0. The combination, with the disappearing turret, of the hydraulic cylinder p, the ram 0 of which supports the turret, the hydraulic .cylinder r, the cross-piece t, connected with the ram s thereof, the springs u, connected with the said cross-head Yt, screw-,threaded dsmb,"eilte'nding"thrigh the said springs, means, substantially such as Iabove described,

for imparting movement to the said ram sl JEAN BAPTlS'lE GUS'IAVE AllOLPIIE CANET.

Witnesses:

J. L. RATHBONE, R. t J. PRESTON. 

